For many generations of University students and Charlottesville residents, the rustic booths of The Virginian hold centuries worth of cherished memories. Whether it be locals gathering for conversations over spinach dip, nervous orientees enjoying their first dinner on the Corner or University students dancing on the booths far past midnight, The Virginian has been a witness to a changing Charlottesville — and a constant for the people passing through.
Known colloquially to many University students as “Virg,” the restaurant sits tucked between Mincer’s and Raising Cane’s on University Avenue. The Virginian’s weathered blue sign is easy to overlook amid the bustle of the Corner. But inside, it is hard to mistake the place for anywhere else.
The wood-paneled walls, vintage photographs of University revelry and retro glass ketchup bottles seem to belong to another era. And the old wooden booths have been softened by thousands of meals, conversations and celebrations…